Criminology

                                                                    SOCY 4014

                                                                      Fall, 2006

                                                   Monday & Wednesday, 8:00-8:50

                                                                  E1 B20 Ekeley

 

 

Instructor:                   Professor Michael Radelet

                                    219 Ketchum

                                    303-735-5811

                                    Radelet@Colorado.edu

                                    Office Hours: MW 9:00-10:30 or by appointment

 

 

Teaching Assistant:                 Ms. Sheila O’Hare

                                                Office: Ketchum 409

                                                Phone:  303-492-6410 (leave message)

                                                Sheila.Ohare@colorado.edu (no apostrophe)

                                                Office Hours:  Monday Noon-2:00

                                                                                    or by appointment

 

 

Recitation Sections:                R011  8:00-8:50                      Tu        301 Clare

                                                R012  11:00-11:50                  Tu        Atlas 1B25

                                                R013  8:00-8:50                      Th        Educ 134

                                                R014  10:00-10:50                  M         G2B21 Duane Physics

 

NOTE: Students must attend the recitation section in which they are registered.

 

NOTE NUMBER 2:  There will be no recitations during the week of September 17.

 

 

I.          Catalogue Description

 

            Scientifically studies criminal behavior with special attention given to development of criminal law and its use to define crime, causes of law violation, and methods used to control criminal behavior.

 

 

II.        Objectives

 

            1.  To foster development of a sociologically informed critical analysis of criminality, in all its forms, and the criminal justice system.

 

            2.  To assist the student in recognizing the distinction between questions of opinion vs. questions where empirical data can be used to generate answers.

 

            3.  To encourage the student in perceiving and demystifying the social forces and powers that influence and shape popular attitudes, beliefs, and ideologies about crime.

 

            4.  The help the student develop her or his thinking, writing, theoretical, and innovative skills.

 

 

 

III. Required Readings

 

 

            1.         John E. Conklin, Criminology, Ninth Edition. Pearson Education, 2006.  NOTE: If students can find the eighth edition on the web for cheap, that is okay, but please let me know so I can make double sure the exams reflect both the 8th and 9th editions.

 

            2.         Sister Helen Prejean, Dead Man Walking.  New York: Random House, 1993.

 

            3.         University of Colorado Student Honor Code and supporting documents;

                        <http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode>

 

            4.         Various materials on reserve in the library, on the web, or to be e-mailed (all

                        students must have an active e-mail address and check e-mail regularly).

 

 

IV.  Course Requirements

 

            1.         Class attendance.  The final course grade will be reduced by one notch (e.g., from an "A" to a "A-") for each fourth unexcused absence in the lecture or in the recitation meetings (that is, we total the absences from recitation and lecture and dock grades for the fourth, eight, twelfth absence).  ALL REQUESTS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE ABSENCE.

 

            2.         Three hourly exams.  The first will be given in class on Wednesday, October 4, the second in class on Monday, November 6, and the third will be at the time of the final exam, Thursday, December 21, 10:30 am (NOTE: this is the last day of finals week; an optional form of the third exam will also be given in class on Wednesday, December 13).  Approximately one-third of the exams will cover lecture and recitation materials, one-third text materials, and one-third will cover both.  It is anticipated that significant portions of both exams will be taken from materials covered in the recitation sections.

 

            3.         One short (three-page) paper for recitation; details to be announced.

 

            4.         One short (six-page) "Critical Reaction Paper," on the Prejean book, due in class on Wednesday, November 15.

 

                        Critical Reaction Paper: The paper should be equally divided into two parts.  In the first half (approximately 3 pages), describe and summarize the book, much as a book review in the Sunday New York Times tries to tell readers -- most of whom have not read the book and probably will not -- what a given book is all about.  What are the major themes and conclusions of the book?  Where is the author coming from?  The second part of your paper should describe your critical reactions to the book.  Here each student has a lot of flexibility, but examples of questions the student might discuss include: What did the author get right (if anything), and what did she get wrong (if anything)?  Did the book remind you of any events in your own life?  What do you feel were the most thought-provoking points in the book?

 

 

V.  Grading

 

                        First Hourly Exam..........................    32 percent

                        Second Hourly Exam......................    26 percent

                        Final Exam .....................................    27 percent

                        Critical Reaction Paper...................    10 percent

                        Recitation Paper ………………….      5 percent

                       

 

VI.  Special Notes

 

            1.         The University of Colorado's "Student Classroom and Course-Related Behavior Policy" will be enforced in this class; see <www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html>

 

            2.         Any student with a disability who may need special accommodations should see the professor during the first two weeks of the semester.  Further information can be obtained from the Office of Disability Services, 492-8671; <www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices>

 

            3.         Dogs and other pets are not welcome in the classroom.

 

            4.         Because of virus concerns, no e-mailed papers will be accepted.

 

            5.         No extra credit work will be permitted under any circumstances.

 

            6.         Absences will be excused only for medical reasons (with letter from a physician) or documented emergencies, not personal obligations (e.g., weddings; delayed airplane flights, etc.). Students who will need to miss a class or recitation because of religious observances should make arrangements with Professor Radelet during the first two weeks of the semester.